Karel Stuart (1600-49), prins van Wales. De latere koning Karel I van Engeland 1621

This portrait of Charles I as Prince of Wales was painted by Peter Oliver. It’s made with watercolor on vellum, a painstaking process involving thin layers of translucent pigment. The smooth surface and vibrant colors are results of Oliver's meticulous technique, typical of limners, or miniature portrait painters, of the period. The tiny scale of the work also speaks to its preciousness; this would have been a very special object, worn or carried to signify allegiance and affection. The filigree gold frame is itself a marvel, an elaborate piece of goldsmithing requiring a very different, equally specialized set of skills. In fact, the frame probably cost more than the painting itself, and definitely took longer to make. Considered together, the portrait and frame offer insight into the courtly culture of the early 17th century, in which commodities of all kinds were being elevated to high art. It is a potent reminder that we should never underestimate the social and economic significance of materials and making.